Dear Reader,
VTDigger is a nonprofit news source dedicated to public service journalism, and we are so proud to be member supported. Today we are announcing the launch of our annual membership drive in conjunction with Giving Tuesday, a day when people who care about the greater good give back to their communities.
Since the pandemic hit Vermont, VTDigger’s staff has tirelessly covered the breaking news about Covid, exposed outbreaks at nursing homes and local hockey clubs and chased town-by-town data. It continues to feel like we’re drinking from a firehose. But member support has kept us going.
We are grateful that 11 local supporters of VTDigger have banded together with Newsmatch, the Knight Foundation and the Democracy Fund to provide a dollar for dollar match for member donations starting today.
That means that when you support our watchdog reporting today, your gift to VTDigger will be doubled.
We will also continue to donate 10 meals to the Vermont Foodbank for each person who makes a membership donation. Digger members have already raised more than 12,000 meals for the Foodbank!
Our goal is to inspire a total of 4,000 members to donate to VTDigger and send 40,000 meals to the Foodbank by the end of the year. We only have 2,800 members left to go. Will you join us?
In light of extenuating circumstances and understanding that many of our readers have likely experienced job loss or disruption, we are changing the format of our typical annual fund drive.
Last spring, VTDigger members sent 3,000 masks to Vermont hospitals when they desperately needed PPE for employees and patients, supporting local journalism and local business at the same time.
This fall, we considered how best to give back to communities across the state. Covid has had a dramatic impact on our economy, and Vermont is at the top of the list of states where food insecurity is rising fastest during the pandemic. Through our reporting on the issue, we were aware of the government aid cliff that the charitable food system is facing at the end December and we asked how we could help. The Foodbank informed us that donations are the best way to help them combat rising hunger.
Our double bottom line is to 1) raise enough funds to meet our budget needs for the coming year and 2) donate 40,000 meals on behalf of our members to the Foodbank by Dec. 31.
You can help us by making a membership donation. Your gift to VTDigger will be doubled by generous supporters of VTDigger, and you’ll be sending 10 meals to the Foodbank.
During this holiday season, we hope you’ll support VTDigger’s mission and Vermonters in need.
With gratitude,
Anne Galloway
Founder and Editor, VTDigger